VAT

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of VAT registration applications were processed within the target time in each of the last three calendar months;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of VAT registration applications received in 2007 were not processed within  (a) 40,  (b) 50 and  (c) 60 days;
	(3)  what the average processing time for VAT registration applications has been for each VAT registration unit since 31 July.

Jane Kennedy: The number and proportion of VAT registration applications processed within target time (14 days) in August, September and October 2007 are set out in the following table. The figures for August and September have been updated since the answer I gave on 23 October 2007,  Official Report, column 257W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles).
	
		
			  Month  Number processed within target time  Percentage processed within target time 
			 August 3,844 16 
			 September 5,597 22 
			 October 14,493 44 
		
	
	These latest figures represent an upturn in HMRC performance, and early signs of success for the improvement measures outlined in my earlier response. This upturn has taken place against an operational background that continues to present challenges, and alongside the ongoing need to operate pre-registration checks to protect the Exchequer against serious frauds such as Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) fraud.

Vulture Funds

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he had discussions with Ministers from other EU states to consider co-ordinated action to outlaw the activities of vulture funds; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The UK is determined to stop so-called "vulture" funds profiting from poor countries. The UK has been working through the G7 and the Paris Club to tackle this problem. In addition, Ministers have a range of discussions with EU and other international partners on international development and related issues.
	We are also focusing on creating a level playing field in which HIPC countries have the resources and expertise to defend themselves. In this context, we are working with the African Development Bank to develop proposals for a legal assistance facility to ensure that countries have access to high quality legal advice to help them fight law suits.

Vulture Funds

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the activities of vulture funds were discussed at the recent annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Chancellor raised this issue with G7 Finance Ministers at the Annual Meetings. In their statement, Finance Ministers reiterated their concern about the problem of aggressive litigation against HIPC countries. They welcomed the steps already taken by the Paris Club to address this problem and urged all sovereign creditors not to sell on claims on HIPCs. G7 Finance Ministers are examining additional steps that might be taken to address this problem.

Vulture Funds

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is on calls by the Finance Ministers of highly indebted poor countries for  (a) codes of conduct to be agreed for creditors not to sell sovereign debts on secondary markets and  (b) international lawyers not to represent litigants who sue poor countries in pursuit of these debts; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: With respect to the sale of debts, Paris Club creditors have publicly stated their commitment not to sell their claims on HIPCs to creditors that might not be willing to implement the HIPC initiative. In their October statement, G7 Finance Ministers welcomed this step and urged all sovereign creditors not to sell claims on HIPCs. We will take forward discussions on this issue in international fora and with private sector creditors.
	So far as legal representation is concerned, we believe the right approach is to focus on creating a level playing field in which HIPC countries have the resources and expertise to defend themselves. In this context, we are working with the African Development Bank to develop proposals for a legal assistance facility to ensure that countries have access to high quality legal advice to help them fight law suits.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has set HM Customs and Revenue a date by which to complete the review of tax credit cases referred to in the written statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 62-63WS, on tax credit administration;
	(2)  how many households HM Customs and Revenue has written to in respect of tax credit awards for  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05 and  (c) 2005-06 with reference to the written statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 62-63WS, on tax credit administration;
	(3)  what action he has taken to deal with the tax credit cases affected by the administrative problems described in the written statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 62-63WS on tax credit administration.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs have started a planned programme of work to review around 100,000 tax credits awards from 2003-04, 75,000 cases from 2004-05 and 75,000 from 2005-06, and has written to advise the households affected.
	HMRC are working to complete this review as quickly as possible.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the written statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 62-63WS on tax credit administration, 
	(1)  how many tax credit claimants have been mistakenly notified by HM Revenue and Customs that their finalised tax credit awards had been re-opened incorrectly and that overpayments would be remitted and what the value was of the remittances made to such tax credits claimants;
	(2)  how many tax credit claimants have been notified by HM Revenue and Customs that their finalised tax credit awards had been re-opened incorrectly and that overpayments would be remitted and what the value was of the remittances made to such tax credits claimants.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs wrote to around 250,000 households in August and September about reviewing or enquiring into awards in order to correct an administrative error. The programme to take forward this action is now under way. No tax credits claimants have yet been advised that their overpayments would be remitted as a result of this exercise.

Welfare Tax Credits

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of compensation payments due to errors and delays in tax credit office administration in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05,  (c) 2005-06 and  (d) 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The circumstances in which HM Revenue and Customs will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's fact sheet, 'Complaints and Putting Things Right', which is available at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk
	For information on the number of compensation payments made each year for 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Paymaster General gave the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) on 18 January 2007,  Official Report , column 1346W. The updated figure for the number of compensation payments for 2006-07 is estimated to be 7,800.

Welfare Tax Credits: Bexleyheath

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency were overpaid tax credits in each financial year since the inception of tax credits.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the number of families with tax credit awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, for the years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are available in the HMRC publications "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments. Geographical Analysis", for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	Information on the level of overpaid tax credit awards in 2006-07 will not be available until May 2008.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in  (a) England and Wales,  (b) Northern Ireland and  (c) the UK received overpayments of each type of tax credit in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the numbers of families with tax credits awards, including overpayments and underpayments by country, based on final family circumstances and incomes, for the years 2004-05 and 2005-06 are available in Table 1.1 in the HMRC publication 'Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. Supplement on Payments. Geographical Analysis', for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	Information for over and under payments in 2006-07 will not be available until May 2008.
	Information broken down by country for each type of tax credit is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people in the UK received overpayments of more than £2,000 in each type of tax credit in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many people received overpayments of more than £5,000 of each type of tax credit in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of tax credit awards, by size of over and under payment in 2004-05 and 2005-06, is produced in Table 3 of the HMRC publications 'Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments' for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm
	Information for over and under payments in 2006-07 will not be available until May 2008.
	Information broken down by size of over or underpayment by each type of tax credit is not available.

Working Tax Credits

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each parliamentary constituency have been in receipt of the incorrect level of working tax credit; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the number of families with tax credit awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, for the years 2003-04,2004-05 and 2005-06 are available in the HMRC publications "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments. Geographical Analysis", for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm

Crown Courts: Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff working in Crown Courts in England reside in Wales.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice currently employs 2,692 staff in the Crown Courts of Her Majesty's Court Service Agency—as at 30 September 2007. Of those employees, that have recorded personal address details available on our Oracle HR system, a total of 60 staff or 2.3 per cent. are recorded as residing in Wales but working for our courts in England.
	
		
			  Crown court staff in England and Wales 
			  Regions of Crown Courts /CCs  Employee resides  Total residing in Wales 
			 North west region Cheshire 51 
			  Clwyd 2 
			  Flintshire 4 
			  Wrexham 1 
			
			 South west Gwent 2 
			
			 Total staff in Crown Courts—2,692 — 60